A week prior to the Dec. 12, 1985 tragedy at the Gander International Airport in Canada, Rtd. SFC Joseph John Casper rode on the plane that went down.

"They sent us home first from that mission, the same plane that dropped us off at Fort Campbell went back," Casper said.

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Retd. SFC Joseph John Casper was at the Army post when the news broke that his unit had undergone a tragedy.(Photo: Pranaav Jadhav/ The Leaf-Chronicle)

Monday marked the 31st anniversary of the tragic plane crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285 in Gander, Canada that took the lives of 248 "Screaming Eagles" and eight crew members.

The 101st Airborne Division commemorated the 31st anniversary of the crash in a ceremony attended by family members, retired army personnel and community leaders.

"It's a time for us to remember and reflect on the service and sacrifice of not only those who gave their lives but the families that continue to persevere," Col. Eric Lopez, commanding officer, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, said.

The 248 soldiers on the flight were from several military units at Fort Campbell deployed on a six-month peacekeeping mission to Sinai, Egypt as part of the multinational force and observers whose duty was to avoid any escalation between Israel and Egypt.

"They completed the mission and prevented a flash point in the Sinai region," Col. Lopez told the audience on Monday, "Today, I think there are three things we can do. First, understand that they are part of us and part of the legacy. Second, we can offer a simple word of thanks and finally we can promise that we will never forget."

The units were to reach Fort Campbell just in time for holidays.

The crash occurred moments after take off from the Gander International airport.

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Units of the 101st Airborne Division honor the 248 Screaming Eagles that lost their lives during the Gander Plane crash in 1985.
Pranaav Jadhav/ The Leaf-Chronicle

Amy Gallow recalls a phone call from her husband when the flight had a stopover at Gander for refueling.

"I was one of the lucky ones, he wasn't due home for a week and he called me from Gander to tell me that he was coming home," Gallow said. "I later found out on television."

Gallow said the ceremony is a huge honor for her and other family members.